SDSN Youth Kenya
SDSN Kenya is a UN-affiliated nonprofit national network, co-hosted by the University of Nairobi and Moi University, that mobilizes 17+ knowledge institutions — universities, NGOs, and research bodies — to advance SDG implementation across Kenya through policy gap analysis, training workshops, and an annual members summit.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersNairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SDSN Youth Kenya does
SDSN Kenya is the Kenyan national chapter of the United Nations-affiliated Sustainable Development Solutions Network, established in 2022 and co-hosted by the University of Nairobi and Moi University. It operates as a nonprofit membership-based network rather than a commercial entity, mobilizing knowledge institutions — universities, research bodies, NGOs, and civil society organizations — to advance implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Kenya. The network has no proprietary technology platform or commercial product; its core "delivery surface" consists of policy gap analyses aligning SDG targets with national and county planning frameworks, SDG awareness public lectures, training workshops (notably on SDG localization for county governments), and an annual members summit. The 1st Annual Members Summit in December 2022 gathered 10 founding institutions; the roster has since expanded to 17+ listed members.
SDSN Kenya's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven. Programming is delivered through direct engagement with member institutions, partnerships with county governments via economic blocs (NOREB, SEKEB), and flagship convenings such as the September 2023 Africa Climate Summit workshop co-hosted with FELD Catalyst, which drew 90+ delegates across government, academia, and civil society. Subsequent activity includes a March 2024 Carbon Markets Clinic, signaling diversification into climate finance advisory. Marketing channels lean on organic social (Facebook, X), the parent unsdsn.org website, and event-based outreach; there is no paid acquisition, no sales team, and no commercial pricing model.
The organization's revenue mechanics are institutional memberships and member contributions — no disclosed prices, no contracts, and no commercial ARR. It operates under the governance of parent SDSN, with leadership including Co-Chair Daniel Olago, Co-Chair James Chelanga, and Network Manager Dr. Stella Mbiti, plus global Africa Lead Nardos Berehe. Operating geographies are restricted to Kenya, with strategic alignment to the broader SDSN Africa region.
SDSN Youth Kenya firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SDSN Youth Kenya
- Legal name
- SDSN Kenya (Sustainable Development Solutions Network Kenya)
- Website
- https://kenya.unsdsn.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SDSN Kenya is a UN-affiliated nonprofit national network, co-hosted by the University of Nairobi and Moi University, that mobilizes 17+ knowledge institutions — universities, NGOs, and research bodies — to advance SDG implementation across Kenya through policy gap analysis, training workshops, and an annual members summit.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SDSN Youth Kenya industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Development Network Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)
Keywords
Where SDSN Youth Kenya is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi, Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
SDSN Youth Kenya business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Contributions: SDSN Kenya operates as a national network with member institutions (universities, research institutions, NGOs) that contribute to the network's operations and initiatives. Revenue is generated through institutional memberships and member contributions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SDSN Youth Kenya product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SDSN Kenya is a national coordination network co-hosted by the University of Nairobi and Moi University that mobilizes knowledge institutions, county governments, and civil society organizations to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Kenya. Its core offerings revolve around policy gap analysis aligning SDG targets with national planning frameworks, SDG localization training workshops for county governments, public lectures and awareness programs, and an annual members summit that convenes institutional members to share expertise and collaborate on SDG initiatives.
Product overview
SDSN Kenya is a national network organization (not a product company) focused on mobilizing members in Kenya to help realize the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Key activities include policy gap analysis aligning SDG targets with national planning frameworks, SDG awareness through public lectures, workshops on SDG localization, and convening annual members summits. The organization operates various programs and workshops rather than offering a software product or technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SDSN Kenya Network Membership
- SDG Localization Training Workshops for County Governments
- Annual SDSN Kenya Members Summit
- SDG Awareness Public Lectures
- Policy Gap Analysis on SDG Alignment Analytical service elaborating how UN Sustainable Development Goal targets align with Kenya's national planning frameworks, supporting evidence-based policy recommendations for SDG implementation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90+ delegates mobilized for climate action discussions at Africa Climate Summit 2023
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SDSN Youth Kenya
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SDSN Youth Kenya technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SDSN Youth Kenya partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- FELD Catalyst (Food, Environment, and Land Development)flagshipCollaborative partnership for organizing workshops and policy engagement platforms. FELD Catalyst co-hosted the 2023 Africa Climate Summit workshop with over 90 delegates focused on sustainable development, climate action, and food security.
- NOREB (North Rift Economic Bloc)minorCounty economic bloc partnership for organizing SDG localization workshops targeting county government officers and assembly members.
- SEKEB (South East Kenya Economic Bloc)minorCounty economic bloc partnership for organizing SDG localization workshops targeting county government officers and assembly members.
- University of NairobicorePrimary co-host institution for SDSN Kenya, providing institutional leadership and hosting network activities. The University of Nairobi serves as the main operational hub for the national network.
- Moi UniversitycoreCo-host institution providing institutional support and serving as the secondary hub for SDSN Kenya activities in Kenya.
- African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS)minorNetwork member NGO contributing expertise in technology studies and sustainable development research.
- Egerton UniversityminorNetwork member university contributing agricultural and environmental research expertise.
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)minorNetwork member university contributing technology and innovation expertise for sustainable development.
- Kenyatta UniversityminorNetwork member university contributing educational and research expertise to the SDSN Kenya network.
- Kenya Climate Innovation CenterminorNetwork member institution focused on climate innovation and sustainability initiatives.
- Strathmore UniversityminorNetwork member through Strathmore Business School, contributing business and management expertise for sustainable development.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SDSN Youth Kenya competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS): A Kenyan policy research NGO (and current SDSN Kenya member) focused on science, technology, and sustainable development policy. Comparable in producing policy analysis and engaging government on sustainability frameworks.
- Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC): A Kenyan organization (and current SDSN Kenya member) supporting climate innovation and sustainable enterprise. Comparable in mobilizing multi-stakeholder climate and sustainability action in Kenya but with a stronger enterprise-development lens.
Direct peers
- SDSN Youth: A youth-focused global initiative under the same UN SDSN umbrella that mobilizes young leaders for SDG implementation. Comparable mission of mobilizing knowledge communities for sustainable development.
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Global): The global parent organization of SDSN Kenya. Comparable as the umbrella network coordinating national and regional SDSN chapters worldwide to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals through knowledge mobilization and policy advisory.
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Africa: An independent policy research institute working on environment and development issues across Africa. Comparable in producing policy-relevant research, convening stakeholders, and advising governments on sustainability implementation.
- SDSN South Africa: Another national SDSN network performing the same country-level SDG convening, training, and policy-gap analysis role as SDSN Kenya, but in a different geography. Directly comparable operating model.
Regional players
- Climate Action Network (CAN) Africa: A regional network of civil society organizations coordinating climate action across Africa. Comparable in mobilizing member organizations around sustainability goals, with a stronger climate-advocacy orientation than SDSN Kenya's broader SDG mandate.
Broad incumbents
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): A policy research organization focused on sustainable development policy advisory and capacity building. Overlaps with SDSN Kenya's policy-gap analysis and capacity-building activities but at a global scale.
- World Resources Institute (WRI) Africa: A global research organization with significant Africa operations working on climate, food, water, and sustainable cities. Comparable in producing data-driven policy analysis and convening multi-stakeholder sustainability initiatives.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kenya: UN agency operating broadly on sustainable development, governance, and capacity building in Kenya. Overlaps with SDSN Kenya's mandate of policy support and SDG localization but operates at far larger scale as a generalist development agency.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SDSN Youth Kenya social profiles
Digital presenceSDSN Youth Kenya financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SDSN Youth Kenya leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SDSN Youth Kenya funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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SDSN Youth Kenya M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about SDSN Youth Kenya
What does SDSN Youth Kenya do?
SDSN Kenya is a national coordination network co-hosted by the University of Nairobi and Moi University that mobilizes knowledge institutions, county governments, and civil society organizations to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Kenya. Its core offerings revolve around policy gap analysis aligning SDG targets with national planning frameworks, SDG localization training workshops for county governments, public lectures and awareness programs, and an annual members summit that convenes institutional members to share expertise and collaborate on SDG initiatives.
Is SDSN Youth Kenya a public or private company?
SDSN Youth Kenya is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SDSN Youth Kenya founded?
SDSN Youth Kenya was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SDSN Youth Kenya based?
SDSN Youth Kenya is headquartered in Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does SDSN Youth Kenya make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Contributions.
Who are SDSN Youth Kenya's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC). Direct peers are SDSN Youth, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Global), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Africa and SDSN South Africa. Climate Action Network (CAN) Africa is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), World Resources Institute (WRI) Africa and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kenya.
Does SDSN Youth Kenya have an API?
No public API is recorded for SDSN Youth Kenya.
What industry is SDSN Youth Kenya in?
SDSN Youth Kenya's product category is Sustainable Development Network Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADABAO, Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs, with a secondary code of BPADAAAA, United Nations System & Specialized Agencies. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.